The INCB, the organ of the UN in charge of ensuring compliance with anti-drug treaties, this Thursday asked the governments of Peru and Bolivia for reports on coca leaf crops “validated” by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The request has been made in the annual report released today in Vienna by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), an independent body made up of 13 experts who verify compliance with the International Drug Conventions.
“The Board reiterates its recommendation to the Governments of Bolivia and Peru that they resume the studies and monitoring reports of the territories affected by illicit crops that are fully prepared and validated by the UNODC”the report states.
“This will make it possible to carry out adequate comparative monitoring between these Andean countries, in addition to ensuring support for the efforts of the Governments of Bolivia and Peru in the fight against drug trafficking”adds the report.
In another part of the document it is indicated that both Bolivia and Peru “They have not published data validated by the international community for 2021” on illicit crops.
“Both countries had previously worked with UNODC to carry out periodic studies on the area covered by illicit crops, as well as on eradication”adds the INCB.
According to reports from the Bolivian and Peruvian authorities, in 2021 the two countries had eradicated 9,458 and 5,775 ha of illicit coca bush cultivation, respectively.
According to UNODC estimates, the global illicit cultivation of the coca bush increased from 156,500 hectares in 2015 to 234,200 in 2020.
In 2020, Colombia continued to be the country with the largest area of coca bush, 143,000 hectares; followed by Peru, 61,800; and Bolivia, 29,400.
In 2021, the INCB already expressed “worry” because in Peru in 2018 and 2019 the area of illicit coca bush cultivation had not been measured, to which the Lima authorities responded that the evaluation was carried out with the presence of UNODC.
On this occasion, the INCB acknowledges that the National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs of Peru (Devida) published last September a report on coca leaf cultivation with a total area of 80,681 hectares.
Source: EFE
Source: Gestion
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